April 29, 2024

Grupo Oesía secures key contract for Eurodrone cipher development

By Defence Industry Europe

On April 25, Airbus Defence and Space signed a contract with the Germany company Liebherr-Aerospace. The company will develop, produce and supply the landing gear and hydraulic systems for the European MALE RPAS developed under the Eurodrone programme. — Photo: Dassault Aviation.

Grupo Oesía, a prominent Spanish aerospace technology group, has been awarded a crucial contract by Airbus Defence and Space in Spain to develop the cipher for the Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) of the Eurodrone, marking another significant milestone in its involvement with the European MALE RPAS (Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) programme.

The Eurodrone project, a collaborative European initiative led by the international armaments agency OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d’Armement) and involving Spain, France, Italy, and Germany, aims to enhance the region’s strategic autonomy in security and defence through multinational armament projects.

Grupo Oesía’s latest contract involves the development, management, and support of the FTI cipher, critical for ensuring the secure transmission and decryption of classified data during flight tests. This system allows for real-time monitoring and subsequent analysis of flight avionics, structural, and environmental parameters, with data transmitted by telemetry to ground stations where it can be recorded both in-flight and on the ground.

This contract adds to Grupo Oesía’s impressive portfolio on the Eurodrone platform, which already includes the Cross Domain Solution, Voice Communications System, Airborne Encryptor, IT Hardware, and Ground Mission Network, establishing it as the Spanish company with the most contracts within the Eurodrone programme.

Andrés García, Managing Director of the Aerospace sector at Grupo Oesía, highlighted the company’s role in European aerospace development: “With this new contract for the development of the Eurodrone, Oesía Group, a leading company in the development and production of innovative aerospace technology and with a 100% Spanish seal, strengthens its role as a relevant actor in strategic projects within the European aeronautical panorama.”

The company’s involvement also extends to other significant aerospace projects including the Eurofighter, the military transport aircraft A400M, and the FCAS (Future Combat Air System), a collaborative defence project among Spain, France, and Germany.

The Eurodrone initiative not only aims to provide advanced capabilities for the safety and sovereignty of European airspace but also fosters the creation of quality jobs across the region, bolstering its economic and technological landscape.